Mitt Romney (seen in January) is "dismayed" at Donald Trump's apparent success in the race for the Republican candidacy. (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney tore into his party's presumptive nominee Thursday evening, saying he has no plans to back Donald Trump as he lamented the state of the presidential campaign.

"I am dismayed at where we are now. I wish we had better choices, and I keep hoping that somehow things will get better, and I just don't see an easy answer from where we are," Romney said at a dinner in Washington, D.C., according to the Washington Examiner.

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Romney has repeatedly attacked Trump throughout the campaign, fighting to keep him from the nomination.

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After Trump locked it up earlier this week, the failed 2012 candidate made it clear through a spokeswoman that he would stay on the sidelines and wouldn't attend the Republican National Convention. But the comments are his first reported remarks since Trump sewed up the GOP nomination.

"I see way too much demagoguery and populism on both sides of the aisle and I only hope and aspire that we'll see more greatness," Romney warned at a dinner held to support an Israeli university.